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William Byrd's histories of the dividing line betwixt Virginia and North Carolina

200 History of the Dividing Llne [October
preserves them from sickness, and from being surpriz'd or Overcome by
their Enemies.
But all such as tell Lies, and Cheat those they have Dealings with, he
never fails to punish with Sickness, Poverty and Hunger, and, after all
that. Suffers them to be knockt on the Head and scalpt by those that
fight against them.
He believ'd that after Death both good and bad People are conducted
by a strong Guard into a great Road, in which departed Souls travel
together for some time, till at a certain Distance this Road forks into two
Paths, the one extremely Levil, and the other Stony and Mountainous.
Here the good are parted from the Bad by a flash of Lightening, the
first being hurry'd away to the Right, the other to the Left. The Right
hand Road leads to a charming warm Country, where the Spring is ever-lasting,
and every Month is May; and as the year is always in its Youth,
so are the People, and particularly the Women are bright as Stars, and
never Scold.
That in this happy Climate there are Deer, Turkeys, Elks,and Buffaloes
innumerable, perpetually fat and gentle, while the Trees are loaded with
delicious Fruit quite throughout the four Seasons.
That the Soil brings forth Corn Spontaneously, without the Curse of
Labour, and so very wholesome, that None who have the happiness to eat
of it are ever Sick, grow old, or dy.
Near the Entrance into this Blessed Land Sits a Venerable Old Man
on a Mat richly woven, who examins Strictly all that are brought before
Him, and if they have behav'd well, the Guards are order'd to open the
Crystal Gate, and let them enter into the Land of Delights.
The left Hand Path is very rugged and uneaven, leading to a dark
and barren Country, where it is always Winter. The Ground is the whole
year round cover'd with Snow, and nothing is to be seen upon the Trees
but Icicles.
All the People are hungry, yet have not a Morsel of any thing to eat,
except a bitter kind of Potato, that gives them the Dry-Gripes, and fills
their whole Body with loathsome Ulcers, that Stink, and are unsupport-ably
painfull.
Here all the Women are old and ugly, having Claws like a Panther,
with which they fly upon the Men that Slight their Passion. For it seems
these haggard old Furies are intolerably fond, and expect a vast deal of
Cherishing. They talk much and exceedingly Shrill, giving exquisite
Pain to the Drum of the Ear, which in that Place of the Torment is so
tender, that every Sharp Note wounds it to the Quick,
At the End of this Path sits a dreadful old Woman on a monstrous
Toad-Stool, whose head is cover'd with Rattle-Snakes instead of Tresses,
with glaring white Eyes, that strike a Terror unspeakable into all that
behold her.

200 History of the Dividing Llne [October
preserves them from sickness, and from being surpriz'd or Overcome by
their Enemies.
But all such as tell Lies, and Cheat those they have Dealings with, he
never fails to punish with Sickness, Poverty and Hunger, and, after all
that. Suffers them to be knockt on the Head and scalpt by those that
fight against them.
He believ'd that after Death both good and bad People are conducted
by a strong Guard into a great Road, in which departed Souls travel
together for some time, till at a certain Distance this Road forks into two
Paths, the one extremely Levil, and the other Stony and Mountainous.
Here the good are parted from the Bad by a flash of Lightening, the
first being hurry'd away to the Right, the other to the Left. The Right
hand Road leads to a charming warm Country, where the Spring is ever-lasting,
and every Month is May; and as the year is always in its Youth,
so are the People, and particularly the Women are bright as Stars, and
never Scold.
That in this happy Climate there are Deer, Turkeys, Elks,and Buffaloes
innumerable, perpetually fat and gentle, while the Trees are loaded with
delicious Fruit quite throughout the four Seasons.
That the Soil brings forth Corn Spontaneously, without the Curse of
Labour, and so very wholesome, that None who have the happiness to eat
of it are ever Sick, grow old, or dy.
Near the Entrance into this Blessed Land Sits a Venerable Old Man
on a Mat richly woven, who examins Strictly all that are brought before
Him, and if they have behav'd well, the Guards are order'd to open the
Crystal Gate, and let them enter into the Land of Delights.
The left Hand Path is very rugged and uneaven, leading to a dark
and barren Country, where it is always Winter. The Ground is the whole
year round cover'd with Snow, and nothing is to be seen upon the Trees
but Icicles.
All the People are hungry, yet have not a Morsel of any thing to eat,
except a bitter kind of Potato, that gives them the Dry-Gripes, and fills
their whole Body with loathsome Ulcers, that Stink, and are unsupport-ably
painfull.
Here all the Women are old and ugly, having Claws like a Panther,
with which they fly upon the Men that Slight their Passion. For it seems
these haggard old Furies are intolerably fond, and expect a vast deal of
Cherishing. They talk much and exceedingly Shrill, giving exquisite
Pain to the Drum of the Ear, which in that Place of the Torment is so
tender, that every Sharp Note wounds it to the Quick,
At the End of this Path sits a dreadful old Woman on a monstrous
Toad-Stool, whose head is cover'd with Rattle-Snakes instead of Tresses,
with glaring white Eyes, that strike a Terror unspeakable into all that
behold her.